England opening batter Zak Crawley suggested he was not familiar with statements from skipper Stokes about the team environment not being "weak men".
Stokes made those words in several interviews following England's defeat in the second Ashes against the Australians earlier this month.
In the lead-up to the third Test, where England now face a series loss at the earliest opportunity, the captain noted he had let his sentiment to "circulate freely" among the squad.
"I've done all the talking in recent days that I needed to have done," said the England leader.
But, following the opener made a knock of 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I missed those remarks."
"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take everything that is said in the press with a pinch of salt," he added.
Raw Conversations and Consistent Messaging
Stokes made the "weak men" observation after his side suffered a loss in Brisbane to fall two matches behind.
The team afterwards took a break to Noosa between the second and third matches.
Before this match, Stokes revealed his team had held "honest" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to stay in contention in the series.
Yet, Crawley asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous tenure in leadership.
"It's been very positive, the same as always," noted the opener. "It's just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with lots of freedom. We believed we could do something special going into this game."
Australia Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph
The opener's wicket on day four came during a crucial three-wicket burst by Australia spinner Lyon.
The spinner's triple strike in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Harry Brook and Stokes himself – left the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a daunting target of 435 runs.
Consequently, the home team require just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead after three Tests.
A loss would prolong the English team's drought in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive away Ashes series loss.
The current battle will be completed in just 11 days of cricket – after England fell the first two Tests in rapid time each.
Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in the UK in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been decided more swiftly. The hosts have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.
"It's disheartening," said Crawley. "Our goal was to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."
"There will still be significant pride at stake and we'll certainly approach it with that mindset," Crawley added.
"The challenge has been tough. They're a formidable side. It was inevitably tough coming here against them. They were the front-runners and have demonstrated their quality."
Pope's Position Under Scrutiny
Although Crawley's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his short-term future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under threat for his spot in the fourth Test starting December 26th.
Pope fell for 17 runs in England's second innings on Saturday, extending his modest returns against the old enemy.
Across sixteen Ashes knocks, Pope has failed to score a half-century and averages just 17.62.
A solitary other English batsman in over a century – Dennis Amiss – has featured as many times in the top six in Ashes Tests and recorded a poorer average.
However, Crawley said any suggestion Pope is being scrutinised comes from "the media" – referring to the press – "and not within the team."
"We all know of his considerable talent," said he. "He has had a productive year if I'm honest."
"He has played several excellent innings. This is noise from the outside. There is no discussion like that regarding Pope in the camp," he finished.
